by Laurel Queen

Created on: May 07, 2008

When it comes to exercising, women tend to steer away from strength training for a myriad of reasons - unfortunately for most women, they are missing out on a very effective and healthy way of exercising. The words themselves conjure up images of steriod-pumped women who look (quite frankly) more like men, which simply is not how strength training for the average person goes.

The fact is, most women simply do not have enough testosterone in their system to bulk up, even with a lot of exercise. The female body is built to have at least some curve, and women need at least 14-15% body fat, compared to men's 7-10%. Because of the different needs of men and women when it comes to bodily health, it is nearly impossible for women to trim off all that fat and bulk up. Strength training - when done properly - will tone your body and improve your overall health with little to no side-effects.

In addition to developing a toned body women enjoy the added benefit of increased bone density. With osteoporosis a looming threat to a large part of the population, proactive avoidance is a powerful tool to peace of mind. How the increase in bone density occurs is this: as your bones take the stress and punishment for your workout, when your bone heals itself, it will actually fill in 'gaps' in the bone with solid mass. Ask any martial artist (who participates in combat martial arts, not point-based sport sparring) - their bones are incredibly thick. The more you work out, the denser the bones. However, a word of caution, there is a point where you would do more damage than good to your bones, but the likelihood of someone who does a moderate amount of exercise running into this problem is slim.

As with any form of exercise, strength training induces endorphins, which are well known to improve moods. Sure, immediately after an intense workout the only thing you'll be looking forward to is a hot shower and big meal, but give it a little more time and you might notice a slight bounce to your step (metaphorically speaking - unless, of course, there really is a bounce to your step afterward). With steady workouts this effect stays in place - it does not change as time goes on.

As your arms tone up, and your overall mood improves, you will notice your overall quality of life improving as well. Things that were once a 'man's job' are now well within your reach. Carrying heavy groceries into the house will not seem as daunting a task. Chasing after small children will actually get easier,

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